**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com

Since I’m a Packers fan, let’s do a NFC North Preview. This year, the NFC North pulled the NFC East and the AFC South. Here are their respective standings from 2015.

What does this all mean for the Packers and the NFC North this year? Just looking at the graphics above can make the Packers, Bears, Vikings, and Lions see Super Bowl rings in their future …

Six of the eight teams didn’t even have a winning record!

The NFC East division champ, the Washington Football Team, had 9 wins, but those wins were in a division in which the competition didn’t break 500. That’s not saying a lot about those 9 wins …

As for the Cowboys, 2016 isn’t looking great. Tony Romo went down in the preseason and won’t be expected back until the middle of the schedule or until he meets the requirements for a do not resuscitate order. The Giants have a new coach, so maybe that’s something to look forward to … but getting rid of Tom Coughlin? A wise person once said, when thinking about getting rid of a coach, you always have to ask yourself, who are you going to get that’s better? Apparently, the organization thinks Ben McAdoo is the answer. Hmmm.

Eagles have a new coach in Doug Pederson. He is a disciple of Andy Reid, so maybe it is a return to better times for the Eagles??? According to SB Nation, don’t get your hopes up. They did an article about the poor clock management Mr. Pederson coached during his Kansas City Chiefs playoff game against the Patriots (see link). So maybe not such a good thing?

As for the AFC South, what is there to say? I never watch them, there is no need to watch them, and I don’t care. I mean, really … what’s the incentive? Let’s take a gander at the recent past of the amazing Jacksonville Jaguars.

Seriously, that’s just impressive.

The only thing to be lukewarm to moderately excited about in the AFC South is the Houston Texans. A new quarterback, Lamar Miller from the inept Dolphins (perhaps he will actually get utilized this year), and DeAndre Hopkins round out the inner circle. It must be thrilling to be a Texans fan and realize you are perhaps the only competent team in the AFC South. Well, unless the Colts get their shit together. However, I give zero fucks about investigating why they were so bad last year.

Now, for the real meat and potatoes of this post … the NFC North.

Here is how the NFC North wound up last year.

Chicago Bears:

Oh, the Bears. What to say …

Really, there isn’t much to say. Langford might be the only ray of light (Go Green!). Miller has never really met expectations and Jeffrey isn’t the same threat after Marshall left. After these mediocre facts, I just really want to add this gif …

Detroit Lions:

I feel so bad for the Lions. In a division where Cutler is the best hope for the Bears, and the Vikes just lost Teddy Bridgewater, this year should be easy breezy for the Lions. Yet, the Lions have the worst luck ever. Without Megatron, I just don’t see how they compete. Number 81 drew double and triple coverage — Matt Stafford is in for a lot of unopen receivers in 2016.

I do have to say though, mad props to Stafford who might be the toughest QB in the league. Each year he takes beating after beating and still gets up. He does nothing but impress me in this regard, but only in that regard.

Green Bay Packers:

This is our year. Honestly, if we don’t win the Super Bowl this year it’s a catastrophic failure.

Reasons why:

Strength of schedule

Jordy Nelson’s return

No Megatron

No Teddy Bridgewater

No Beastmode

No nemesis team, i.e., Niners

Jay Cutler

Hopefully a more motivated Eddie Lacy (who should be helped by the presence of Jordy)

Play calling experiment over — McCarthy has taken back the reigns

Jake Schum — okay, this is a weak one, but only because of the individual, not the concept. We needed a better punter, badly.

Here is our depth chart thanks to Ourlads.com:

Our window isn’t closing, but it’s not wide open either. We have so many things going for us this year. This is the year we need to get it done.

So yay! Let’s do it Packers!

Minnesota Vikings:

Poor Vikings. They were the NFC North division champs last year with a bright, shiny 2016 ahead of them. How fast things can change. Teddy Bridgewater dislocated his knee along with an ACL tear in the preseason. That is devastating.

Fortunate for the Vikings (as of Sept 1st), the general manager was quoted as saying this in an NFL.com article:

“The one thing that I will not do, and I promise you this, is put our organization in a situation where it’s going to inhibit us or hurt us going into the future,” Spielman told reporters before the Vikings played the Rams in their preseason finale .

That sounds good, right?

Hmmm. Just wait for it …

Sam Bradford traded from the Eagles!

Here is what the Vikes gave up:

2017 1st round draft

2018 4th round draft pick (could be a 3rd round if win NFC championship or a 2nd round if win the SB)

$7 million

Yeah, you know, just what Spielman said, no impact on the future …

Here is what Bradford brings:

A somewhat shiny QB for the Vikes grand opening of their new stadium

2016: 3, 725 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions

2015: Missed two game due to concussion, missed two other games for sprained shoulder

2014 Left ACL reinjury (preseason) – out for season

2013 Left ACL tear (week 7 of season)

2009 A/C joint surgery

Oh, man. Good luck Vikes. I mean, wow. Just … wow …

I hope this blog was informative, maybe got you up to date, or at least got you pumped for the season.

**** Madeline Fresco is a novelist who lives in San Diego. She is the author of CROSSED THE LINE, available for Kindle at Amazon.com, for Nook at Barnes & Noble, and as an ePub at other eBook retailers. You can also listen to her novel as a free, serialized audiobook at http://www.madelinefresco.com. Her second book THE CHOICE, is available on Kindle at Amazon. Her third book ANGUISH, is available for Kindle at Amazon.com

What a performance Green Bay’s defense has put on the last two weeks. It is exactly what Packer’s fans have wanted for years now. Our once shameful defense, our weak link, is now a positive.

In week 5, our defense not only looked good, but was the more dominant of the two sides of play. 4 interceptions, 3 sacks, and a blocked field goal. One of the interceptions was returned for a touchdown.

Think about that. The score was 24-10. How close was that game without that defensive touchdown? Amazing.

Per ESPN, Green Bay has the 10th overall defense this year so far. That’s very, very incredible.

We are now a quarter of the way through the season. So how is the NFC North holding up? Are we meeting expectations? Or are we a disappointment?

Detroit Lions:

Record 0-4

Loss: Chargers, Vikings, Broncos, Seahawks

This is such a hard post to write. The Lions have seemingly fallen back into old habits. They seem to have that cloud back that no matter what they do, they just seem to lose the football game.

I watched the game against the Hawks last night. What really stood out to me was the mentality. Going into the 4th quarter the score was 13 to 7. You would have thought by the way the Lions walked off the field, hung their heads, the score was 56-0. Yet, they were only down by one touchdown. I kept yelling at the screen for them to stay in the game! This is why they play football! You just don’t know what is going to happen!

Needless to say, it did. There was a RW fumble for Lions recovery – although the Lions didn’t capitalize on it, it speaks volumes to how fast a game can change and to not give up. Then late in the fourth quarter, the Lions did what the Lions do best, suddenly start playing football. This seems to be a theme for them. They get down, then have flashes of, maybe not brilliance, but some good football. With 6:23 left to play, Stafford marches the Lions down the field. All the Lions fans want is the ball to be in the hands of their best play makers, namely, Johnson or Tate. They finally do just that! Lions fans rejoice – no stupid decisions! No under thrown passes! Yet … they find a way. Calvin Johnson has the ball punched out at the one yard, maybe half-yard line. Collective, utter, stunned silence from Lions fans around the world. They managed to screw up once again.

The thing is, the Lions have a lot to be proud of. They went into the Seahawks stadium and nearly beat them. They finished the game at 13-10.

Clearly, the Lions need to stop beating themselves. They also need to make their tackles – especially against a mobile quarterback. They had to have known RW would be running all day with ML out. Unacceptable.

Lions, yes, you are 0-4, but your season is not over yet. I really do think, with the right attitude, you guys could do well.

Just don’t give up, like you did in this game. Good teams know you play the whole 60 minutes (cough-cough, GB 2015 NFC Championship game) – you guys need to learn this, and fast.

As for the missed call, here are my thoughts on it. There are tons of times that calls are made no where near the ball, but they still count. Rules are rules. As soon as refs start deciding that they don’t want a whole game decided on a rule, as was the case here, then why even bother having rules? Yes, Seattle was the only one near the ball, it probably would have gone out on its own. However, rules are to be enforced by the refs, not to be turned into judgement calls.

Here’s an example, remember when the Lions coach Jim Swartz in 2012 threw a challenge flag? The rules had just changed – all scoring drives are automatically reviewed. However, the new rule was that you could not throw a challenge flag because of the review. If you did, you got an unsportsmanlike penalty.

Again, that’s a rule. It is enforced. It changed the outcome of the game despite the fact it was a ridiculous addition to the rule. It’s why later, when Mike McCarthy did it, good old boy Jordy Nelson tried to sneakily walk over and pick it up so the Pack wouldn’t get called. You can see Mike and Jordy share a grin – like two school boys trying to get away with something behind their teacher’s back. I can’t remember if we got away with it or not. I just kind of liked Jordy more at that moment.

Anywho, all this, whether articulate or not, is to say whether you believe inthe rule or not (I guess I’m getting at there are some dumb ones), a rule is a rule is a rule.

Chicago Bears:

Why are his lips always puckered?

Record 1-3

Win: Raiders

Loss: Packers, Cardinals, Seahawks

John Fox’s team is exactly where everyone thought they would be. Well, I did think they would be lower in the standings than the Lions, but that’s more of an issue with the Lions and not Chicago.

Jay Cutler has displayed in the first 4 games that he is still Jay Cutler.

Ugh.

Brandon Marshall is gone, doing actually quite well with the Jets. Good for him. On an aside, I loved the article that was out earlier in the week about how he likes to go antique shopping. It couldn’t have been more charming.

However, back to Chicago, so what does losing Brandon to the Jets mean for the Bears? Well, a lot. Especially since Alshon Jeffery has not played since week one due to a hamstring injury. The receiving core is decimated. With Cutler as the quarterback, poor Forte has a huge workload.

The Bears realizing the dire position they are in started a fire sale on September 28th. They traded Jared Allen to the Panthers and Jon Bostick to the Patriots. In return, the Bears got a conditional 6th round and a 6th round draft for the trades.

Now the rumor mill says with Allen gone Willie Young is asking for a trade. Now, it seems like players are just trying to get off of a sinking ship.

The schedule this year does not get any easier, so the Bears might want to just chalk this year up to one large training camp for next year and try and make improvements where they can.

Minnesota Vikings:

Record 2-2

Win: Lions, Chargers

Loss: Niners, Broncos

I have to admit, I don’t know much about this team. I watched one of their games, and for the life of me, I can’t remember which one right now. I think the Niners. Yes, that was the one. I just remember thinking why didn’t they give the ball more to Adrian Peterson. Well, apparently, they have and that has helped. I do remember thinking the Vikes should have played better. I kind of thought the Vikings would be better this year. They have room to improve, and even though they didn’t start out as fast as I thought they would, I still think they are going to be tough to beat down the stretch.

They need to improve though, as it will be hard to keep up with the Pack, considering they are already two games ahead with the next to games at Lambeau.

Speaking of the Pack …

Green Bay Packers:

Record 4-0

Win: Bears, Seahawks, Chiefs, Niners

The Packers could not get off to a better start. Not only are they 4-0, which is always the most important number, but the wins are mentally important.

The Pack has now beat one of their main rivals in regards to Seattle, and even their Achilles heel in the Niners.

Green Bay lost in week one last year to the Hawks, and, more critically, in the NFC Championship game in spectacular fashion. The Pack lost to the Niners on these occasions …

The defense against the Niners looked much improved. Even I, who am completely against Dom Capers, had to give credit where credit is due.

Now, that was against the Niners, and they are bad this year, but … still. The Niners always seem to find a way to exploit our weakness — but not this time. I’ll take the “w” on the defensive side of the ball.

Success has come this quarter of the season despite losing our deep threat in Jordy Nelson. This has caused more short, quick passes. Unfortunately, we have the injury big again this year. Cobb is clearly diminished. It’s not that he’s not doing very good, but you can tell he’s not 100%. The same goes for Eddie Lacy.

Our 3rd receiver was supposed to be Davante Adams, but he has been out with an ankle injury, and let’s be honest, even when he was in the game his performance was lacking.

Now, other teams can focus their coverage on James Jones and Cobbs.

On an aside, thank God for JJ. Remember when he was one of the dropsey twins with Jermichael Finley? Well, perhaps being carted around the league and left for dead caused him to be more focused. He is doing, as Mike McCarthy would say, one heckuva job. Thank you JJ.

What we need is for Cobb to heal up, but I don’t know how anyone can do that while the season is taking place. We also need Ty Montgomery and Richard Rodgers to step up. It’s a lot to ask, but you have the best quarterback in the league — if you are going to be successful with anyone, it’s going to be him.

Ty Montgomery has done very well on returns and RR had a touchdown in the last game. These are promising developments for the rest of the season.

Finally, to recap the first quarter of the season, why not a screenshot of the conference standings thus far …

I was very worried that we were going to let Randall Cobb walk. It’s been known to happen before, for example, Greg Jennings.

However, hopefully both the Packers and Cobb came to the decision to remain in business together because of Greg Jennings.

Greg Jennings was our primary receiver in Green Bay before he left. We had the triple threat of Jennings, Nelson, and James Jones with the emerging Cobb. Up until 2013, we also had the threat of Jermichael Finley; despite his inconsistencies, he was still a match-up problem for defenses.

In 2013 we lost Greg Jennings and we then had our triple threat as Nelson, Jones, and Cobb. Cobb really stepped up to the plate by replacing Jennings. However, after week 7 of the 2013 season, we lost Finley to injury.

It became more apparent what a loss Finley and Jennings were.

Then, in 2014, we didn’t have James Jones either. With the loss of the third receiver, our production since Jennings left in 2013 seemed to be missing that killer edge. No longer did we have a consistent 3rd receiver. Davante Adams stepped up, but was still making rookie mistakes. We didn’t have a good tight-end that could consistently take the pressure off either. Every time the ball was thrown Rodgers or Quarless’s way, did you not hold your breath?

Which brings me back to the Cobb contract. If we had had a viable third option in the NFC championship game, we may have won the game. We only scored 6 points in the second half. A great defense like Seattle is going to have Nelson and Cobb covered, what we didn’t have was that third threat, certainly not a fourth. What made us so lethal for a few years was having Jennings, Nelson, and Jones + Finley; or Nelson, Cobb, and Jones + Finley. What if we had had Jones, Finley, or Jennings? I think we would have won.

We could not afford to lose Cobb, too. That would have put us with only Nelson remaining, no slot, no second receiver, and no developed tight-end. It would have been a huge problem.

Davante Adams seems like he will make the leap from rookie to second year receiver. Perhaps if Cobb’s contract was after the 2015 season, it would be a different story. Apparently, Aaron Rodgers loves tight-end Rodgers. Aaron states he has the best hands he has seen. Just think, now that we have secured Cobb, if Davante Adams can become that third receiver and Rodgers can become a well-rounded tight-end we will be as lethal as the year we won the Super Bowl. A great well-rounded tight-end or 3rd receiver will also free up Lacy to being more productive as a running back. Plus, if Rodgers can block more too, then that will open running lanes as well.

The second thing that Jennings may have contributed to Cobb resigning with Green Bay is that Jennings looks miserable in Minnesota. His production has fallen off, and now, after only 2 years, the Vikes are considering releasing him. A similar situation has occurred for James Jones in Oakland. Yes, he was our third receiver and put up more yards in 2013 than any other receiver in the NFL, but once he went to Oakland, that production dropped way, way off. Leaving Green Bay has not been kind to these receivers. Cobb may have learned from their mistakes. Taking a few million less is the best deal because he can remain competitive in Packers nation, get himself in some record books, and perhaps win a Super Bowl. Us common folk know this for a fact — being in a crappy job is the worst thing. Coming to an environment that you hate is the worst. I would certainly take a small pay cut if that meant that my every day life would be better.

Here are some other things to look at. Cobb is the second best receiver on our team right now. People love the Packers. People love Cobb. Look at all of the endorsement deals that Aaron Rodgers gets. Greg Jennings even had old spice commercials while he was with the Pack. Matthews has endorsement deals, too. Cobb remaining with a good team and putting up good numbers will attract endorsements. That will by far make up the remaining difference between the contracts.

Look at how many endorsements Greg Jennings has now? None. What about James Jones? None.

Some say that with Cobb signing 4 years with the Packers may improve his chances at getting a large contract again when the 4 years are up. He will only be 28 years old at that time. This is another thing Cobb may have learned from Jennings. Yes, Jennings deal with the Vikings got him a big deal, but he might not even finish his current contract before the Vikings release him. Someone might sign him again, but chances are for very low money. By Cobb taking a few million less now, it may help a future contract if he has a Super Bowl under his belt and the same type of yards he has last season.

All I have to say is I am super happy to have Cobb on our team for the next four years. I love my team. I love the players. There isn’t a bad seed amongst them.

On a final note, I feel so bad for the Lions losing Suh. It’s excellent news for the Pack, but, oh, man, the Lions. That defense was what got it done. It is remarkable that Suh who is known for his bad attitude and crappy moral code, went to the Dolphins where the culture fits his had attitude. Man, how things work out.

Despite it being my team, really, the game of the week is the Lions at the Packers. It has huge implications, which I will get into below.

The NFL picked the Bengals at Steelers to be the game of the week and flexed it to the Sunday Night Football spot on NBC. This game, too, has similar implications — winning the division title. However, unlike the Lions/Packers game, it is a lot harder for the Bengals to get a first round bye. The Lions/Packers game has much more significance because the winner will get a first round bye. Plus, in the entire NFL, home field means more for the Hawks and the Packers than it does for any other team. No one wants to go through Seattle or Green Bay. Green Bay won every single game at home this year.

Lions at Packers 4:25PM EST: Holy crap, this is for all the marbles. Lions versus Packers for the second seed and NFC North champs. This is huge for the Lions (I don’t care, Go Pack!). The Lions have not won the division in 21 years. Does that even compute? Twenty-one years. The Lions haven’t even won in Wisconsin since 1991. What? How is that even possible? Man, tough break, Lions.

An even tougher break is losing your center, Raiola, because your team is a bunch of idiots. Honestly, why even stomp on the guy’s leg? What does that prove? How does that serve your team? You were playing the Bears, come on! However, to me, that wasn’t even the worst. The helmet-to-helmet by Detroit Lions defensive end Ansah to Jimmy Clausen was too much. Ansah clearly is leading with his helmet, plus, his hands and arms aren’t even in the equation. It was a kill shot.

One of the reasons I don’t like the Lions is because they are dirty, dirty players. People don’t want to root for your team because no one likes a bully. I thought Jim Caldwell had stopped this narrative from taking place. Apparently, not. I’d love to see what kind of facial reaction he had in regards to the suspension of Raiola. Does Caldwell even have an expression outside of no expression? I’m not even sure why he has a headset on during the games. He barely talks into the damn thing.

The complete opposite of the Lions, personality wise, are the Green Bay Packers. Everyone likes Aaron Rodgers. He’s competitive, but not a jerk. Jordy Nelson? A farmer from Kansas. He shakes hands with his team after he gets a touchdown. Eddie Lacy? Buys his parents a house after hurricane Katrina. Ah, that’s why the Packers are one of the most-liked teams in the NFL. Sorry, Cowboys, you are not America’s team anymore. The difference between the Cowboys and other teams is this. If you are not a Chiefs fan, you don’t hate the Chiefs. As for the Cowboys, if you aren’t a fan, you hate them. To reiterate, I’m not a Raiders fan … but I don’t hate them. I HATE the Cowboys. Someone should do a stat on that. (Proof can be found in the latest out of Dallas. Dallas is pushing for Romo to be the MVP. Cowboys, THAT’S WHY WE HATE YOU!)

I’m just making the case for our win based on a popularity contest. Look, I don’t care how we get the win, I just want the win.

Panthers at Falcons 4:25PM EST: Despite these two teams being sub par, there is nothing like win and you’re in. I would put this game above others. I mean, (shrug), the Bengals are in. I don’t really care if they move around in seeding. Seeding, to me, doesn’t seem as important in the AFC. Yet, win or go home, now that has HUGE implications! As long as you can make it in, you always have a chance. Look at that happened for Green Bay in 2010? They made it in as a wild card and then went on to win the Super Bowl. That’s why this game is so important! The most critical thing is just getting in. I certainly wouldn’t rule out the Falcons being able to squeak a win out in the playoffs if they get in. The Cardinals with their 3rd string QB are now beatable. The Cowboys? I’m not sold on them. They are beatable.

I’m rooting for the Falcons. I like Julio Jones. I like Fitzgerald. I like Matt Ryan, but, apparently, who doesn’t?

Look. I’m not gonna lie to you. Losing last week sucked. It sucked so bad. We lost in every phase of the game. We lost spectacularly. A safety on the last drive of the game was the cherry on top.

It was a team loss. Aaron Rodgers made some pretty awful throws. Aaron was lucky he came out of that one with only 2 interceptions, there could have been at least 2 more on top of that. Receivers, I’m looking at you Davante Adams, didn’t even turn around for some of the passes. Jordy Nelson dropped one, which, that will happen, but it stings because it was such a big play. Just lay off Jordy you all. Special teams allowed a return for a TD and a blocked kick. Oh, and then there is my favorite defensive coordinator, Dom Capers. I want everyone who keeps trying to say the defense held the Bills to field goals to STFU. Oh, yay! The Bills didn’t get a touchdown. Yeah, well, you allowed four, FOUR field goals. There is nothing awesome-o about allowing four field goals. I’m not entirely sure who to blame for the safety. All I know is I’m sitting there like, put the whole game behind you, guys. It’s okay. We just need one touchdown — we can do this. Remember Miami. And …. plop, the ball is on the ground, in the end zone. Safety.

Wow.

There is a scenario where we do not make the playoffs. You gotta be kidding me.

That’s why, this week, the NFL Week 16 Games To Watch is a Packers addition. I know, I know — pretty selfish of me, but these are selfish times, thanks to our biting loss to Kyle Orton and my second least favorite defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz. I hated seeing Jim Schwartz on the sidelines as the Bills defensive coordinator. It is entirely possible to just hate looking at someone’s face.

Philadelphia at Washington (Saturday 4:30PM EST): As a Packers fan, we need the Eagles to lose to Washington. That’s not necessarily off the table. The last time these two teams met, Washington only lost by 3. Kirk Cousins. He made 30 out of 48 passes and gained a total of 427 yards. My Michigan State alumni had three touchdowns and one interception. As we all know, Cousins tanked after that, but all I am saying, is it is in the realm of possibilities. So make it happen.

Lions at Bears (Sunday 1:00PM EST): Okay. We all saw MNF (more or less … okay, less. I only watched two plays and baby Cutlet got sacked two times in a row). This is a bit of a stretch; Bears need to win. However, if the Bears couldn’t turn it on for MNF after all the news came out about the internal team backstabbing, then I don’t know that they can. The Lions are the number 2 seed. They are going to turn it on. I’m hoping they get really big heads, think they have the game locked up, and a miracle happens. Maybe they all get a little chilly at the Bears stadium. Maybe Angelina Jolie visits Detroit and gives the team chickenpox? Look, I don’t want anyone seriously ill or anything, but maybe a catering company can cause the team to have food poisoning? Honestly, I’m desperate. I don’t see the football Gods sending a “W” on the wings of a dove down to Soldier Field. But I wish they would.

Colts at Cowboys (Sunday 4:25PM EST): Colts need to win. I don’t want our chances of going into the playoffs based on some random tie-breaking rule. Cowboys and Pack did not play a head to head game. The next rule is best record in conference. It may actually come down to best record in common games, the 3rd tie-breaking rule for the wild card. That is so sketchy, I don’t like it. Good luck, Luck. I root for the caveman on Sunday.

Seahawks at Cardinals (Sunday 8:30PM EST): This would be the game of the week for everyone watching football week 16. In particular, for the Packers, we need the Seahawks to lose. Anyone that is in playoff contention needs to lose. It will help with home-field advantage as well. Seahawks can taste home-field advantage. Everyone in the NFC playoff race does not want Seattle to get home field. It’s in everyone’s best interest if Seattle loses this game.

Of note, if the Cardinals win this game, it very well may happen that the Cards go to the Super Bowl at home. I’m not sure this happens with the 3rd string quarterback Lindley. The good news is, Stanton may be back in time for the playoffs. Which, at the beginning of the season, who would have thought having Drew Stanton as your quarterback in the Super Bowl would be a good thing?

Side note, yes. The Packers need to beat Tampa Bay on Sunday. I sure-as-shit hope that happens, cause if it didn’t …